'Not enough time to take up Jinggoy in ethics committee'

ABS-CBN News

MANILA - Senate President Franklin Drilon supports the convening of the ethics committee following complaints of Senator Jinggoy Estrada that he has been prejudged by the chair of the Blue Ribbon Committee in connection with the pork barrel scam.

Drilon said, however, there is not much time left before the end of the session on March 15.

He said the search for someone to head the ethics committee is also taking too much time.

He believes the Ombudsman’s investigation may soon come up with its findings.

“Siguro makapagdedesisyon naman ang Ombudsman sa lalong madaling panahon which, on the other hand, hindi po namin matatapos kung mag-iimbestiga kami sa Ethics Committee. I doubt it very much if we can have any substantial work by the time we go on a break by March 15,” Drilon said.

Taking the Senate floor on Monday, Estrada said: “If you or anybody has any goods against me, I think the proper forum is the committee on ethics. I think it’s unfair for me and [Senator Juan Ponce Enrile] that the outcome has already been prejudged…”

He said he almost fell of his chair when Senator TG Guingona, the head of the Blue Ribbon Committee, described socialite Ruby Tuason’s testimony as a “three-point shot, buzzer beater, winning shot.”

The following day, Guingona denied he had pre-judged the case, saying his only weighed the testimony of Tuason.